bp is the first retailer ever to sign up to the Retail Trust’s services for five years. The renewed partnership will support the next phase of its work with the charity, with funding contributing to new digital support for retail workers across the UK.
bp became the first forecourt retailer to join forces with the charity in 2023 and make the Retail Trust’s wellbeing support a core part of its retail operations. Staff can now access a wide range of resources including counselling, financial aid and a virtual GP service, and every new store manager receives training to support their teams.
bp has also used the Retail Trust’s generative AI powered happiness dashboard to strengthen its workplace culture, which contributed to bp being named the retail sector’s Happiest Place to Work at the 2025 Retail Week Awards. The dashboard allows retailers to track mental health across their organisations, respond to wellbeing trends and measure the effectiveness of support.
Close to half of all retail workers told the Retail Trust they were abused or attacked every week last year, and bp is also one of a number of major retailers backing the charity’s Let’s Respect Retail campaign to protect staff and end abuse. bp staff were among those to take part in training from the Retail Trust last year to help more shop workers with the rise in threatening behaviour.
The renewed partnership will support the next phase of the Retail Trust’s work with bp, with funding contributing to new digital support for retail workers across the UK.
Andy Allen, UK retail operations director at bp, said: “Our colleagues are the heart of our retail business, particularly those working on the frontline in our stores every day. We know these roles can be demanding, and it is important that people feel supported, listened to and valued, not just when things are going well, but when they are under pressure too.
“Our partnership with the Retail Trust has helped us put meaningful support in place, from training for new store managers to confidential services colleagues can access whenever they need them. Extending this partnership allows us to build on what we have learned so far, use insight more effectively, and continue creating a positive, supportive environment where our people can thrive.”
bp is one of more than 200 retailers to work with the Retail Trust to protect their staff’s mental health, including Poundland and Mountain Warehouse who began new partnerships with the charity in the last year. The Retail Trust also joined forces with Merseyside Police earlier this month, to help protect shop workers in Liverpool against escalating levels of abuse.
Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, said: “bp’s partnership with the Retail Trust has given thousands of retail workers access to practical and meaningful support over the last three years, and demonstrates just how seriously bp takes the wellbeing of its colleagues.
“Extending our partnership will allow us to build on this work and help us invest in new ways to reach and support even more retail workers in the years ahead.”
